Autumn Art Show debuts in Jackson Township firehouse

The first Monroe-Carbon County Autumn Art Show debuts Saturday at the Jackson Township Volunteer Firehouse in Reeders.

PETE PAPPALARDO

The first Monroe-Carbon County Autumn Art Show debuts Saturday at the Jackson Township Volunteer Firehouse in Reeders.

"This is the first combination of Carbon County Arts League and the Pocono Mountains Art Group. We have over 70 members. The Pocono Mountains Arts Group dates back to 1956 and has members from Monroe and Carbon counties and the Lehigh Valley," said Julia Saeger, president of Pocono Mountain Arts Group. "We also do demonstrations, not only for members but to the public as well. I work with oils and acrylics, and I am a student myself."

According to organizers, the new show is designed for artistic enjoyment and not competition. While the work of the participating artists will be judged on the quality and artistic execution of their work by the show's juror, Thomas Augusta, there will be no cash prizes awarded.

Augusta retired from a career in art and advertising, and now works from his studio in Portland. Like many of the group's members, Augusta displays his watercolors in both local and regional galleries.

Andy Collazo is another member who is using retirement to do what he loves, painting in oils and acrylics from his home in the West End.

"I'm a retired New York City firefighter, and when I retired, I came out here. I love it here. I've been drawing all my life, self-taught. I was doing fire scenes, and one of my paintings was chosen for the cover of Connections magazine. I was honored that they chose my painting. I became art director for WNYF magazine — that stands for With New York Firefighters — doing illustrations for five years," Collazo said. "I did lots of 911 scenes as well, but now I try to get into other areas, a range of things. I'm trying everythin — houses, horses, birds. I just did a tomato scene with waterdrops."

Collazo has recently branched out to do portraits taken from photographs as well.

"I did a painting of Jimi Hendrix, and I sold that one (at Art in the Park). Now someone wants me to do one of Santana. I'm 74 years old, I said, 'Let me try everything.' I just get up in the morning and say, 'Let me see what I can paint.' I just finished one of Eli Manning because I'm a Giants fan. I do it for the love of it. I'm donating a painting to the Jackson Township Fire Company, a fire scene of three firemen going up the stairs," Collazo said, adding that the painting will be on display during the show before it finds its new home at the fire hall.

Mary Jane Arner is another of the 20 or so artists presenting paintings and photography. Arner, who lives, works and teaches in Brodheadsville, is an active octogenarian with many interests.

"I'm 84 years old, and I just had to quit tennis, but I still golf. I'm a pretty realistic painter — realistic, not photographic. I paint the historical places that are still standing, or market scenes from around the world. I travel a lot. I do some still-lifes, too, of what we know and see every day. I've been painting for 45 years. I took every course I could find all over the country. I wasn't happy with my work and took lessons from Phoebe Conrad; she died a few years ago. She would say, 'Paint what you see!' and I would say, 'What do I see?' " Arner recalled, laughing.

"I teach the way I wish I had learned. It should be fun; it should be easy. I teach in my studio in Brodheadsville, 25 years, in my Fresh Air Gallery. ... I don't want my students to emulate me, but to express themselves."

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